To nurture future leaders of Asia, the Kamenori Foundation brings together youth from various countries in Asia to participant in the Kamenori Earth Youth Summit (KEYS).
The goal of this summit is to promote mutual understanding among Asian countries and foster global perspectives and partnerships by exploring issues surrounding Asia together.

Kamenori Earth Youth Summit 2017 [KEYS2017]
The term of application has closed.

The first day of the Kamenori Earth Youth Summit (KEYS) 2017 began at United College of the Chinese University of Hong Kong on August 15th. This is the second time KEYS has been held in Hong Kong with the last time in 2011. The theme of this year's conference is Current Issue and Prospects for Tomorrow's Asia: Towards “One Asia”. This year, 32 university students from 7 countries/regions in Asia (China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam) were invited to attend the conference.

Day 1: August 15th, Tuesday
The participants arrived at Hong Kong International Airport from the various destinations in Asia. After all the participants arrived on the campus of United College, they enjoyed their first dinner together, followed by fun ice-breaking games including their self-introduction to each other.

Day 2: August 16th, Wednesday
After the orientation, the participants had Dim Sum for lunch. In the afternoon, the opening ceremony was held. The keynote address by Professor Sir James A. Mirrlees, Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences was given with the title of “Poverty and Inequality in East Asia”. After the keynote address, Professor Sir James A. Mirrlees, Professor Takanori Kitamura and Doctor Amitendu Palit who would give keynote address and lecture in coming day joined to the round table session moderated by Professor Bryan Mercurio, Professor of Law at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. They present their views on the topic of East Asian Development: Challenges and Opportunities in the round table session. Responding to the addresses and round table discussion with warm enthusiasm, the student participants asked many stimulating questions in the Q&A session. During the dinner, the participants performed songs and dances representing their countries.

Day 3: August 17th, Thursday
The participants, gathering by their own research groups, had a consultation with the advisory professors on their respective topics. After the group session, Dr. Dr. Amitendu Palit, Senior Research Fellow in the Institute of South Asian Studies at the National University of Singapore, gave us a lecture with the title of Trade and the Indo Pacific. In the afternoon, the second keynote address by Professor Takanori Kitamura, former Japanese Ambassador to Greece and former Consul-General of Japan in Hong Kong, was given with the title of Exploring Regionalism in East Asia. In the evening, students separated into these five topic-groups, and started their group research.

Day 4: August 18th, Friday
In the morning, participants presented the current situations and problems of their respective countries/regions on four topics related to Business/Economics, Education, Environment and Politics/Society. In the afternoon, each group worked on their research topic followed by a lecture at an Indian restaurant in Chungking Mansions in Tsimshatsui by Professor Gordon Mathews who teaches in the Department of Anthropology at the CUHK. The participants were excited to have the lecture at such an unusual place where people of various nationalities are living, and which people living in Hong Kong do not usually visit.

Day 5: August 19th, Saturday
After group work in the morning, the participants visited the Hoi Ha Wan Marine Life Centre of the World Wide Fund for Nature Hong Kong in Sai Kung. The participants learned about the problems related to the sea around Hong Kong through a lecture. They also went onto a glass bottom boat to observe the corals and the marine environment near the Centre. In the evening, they moved to the Victoria Peak. They had a great night view of Hong Kong. After the visit to the Peak, they visited the Mongkok and enjoyed their dinner and shopping in the local market.

Day 6: August 20th, Sunday
To prepare for the final presentation on the following day, the participants continued their respective research and made an abstract and slides for presentations.

Day 7: August 21th, Monday
In the morning, the participants had their last advising session with their respective advisory professors for the final amendments of their presentations. In the afternoon, the Students’ Summit was held where the participants took the stage to present the excellent outcome from their hard work. We welcomed the honorable guests including (Ambassador) Mr. Kuninori Matsuda, Consul-General of Japan in Hong Kong, and Professor Jimmy Yu, Head of United College at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. The founder of Kamenori Foundation, Dr. Alex K. Yasumoto also joined in to listen to the students’ presentations. After the presentations, the comments were given by the four research advisory professors. In the closing ceremony, the participants received a certificate for completing the program of KEYS 2017 and the Consul-General Matsuda gave a speech to the participants.
The farewell dinner followed in the evening. Many participants expressed their comments about the wonderful learning experience at the KEYS2017. They also vowed to further cultivate friendships and stronger ties with the KEYS participants, and continue the spirit of learning which has been strengthened at KEYS.

Day 8: August 22th, Tuesday
In the last morning of KEYS 2017, the participants filled in the comment sheet for this program as their reflection. The participants headed to the airport together in a bus and returned to their home countries. The participants went home with their heads held high for their achievements in KEYS.